The National Association of Social
Workers (NASW) was established in 1955 through the consolidation of the
following seven organizations:
- American Association of Social Workers (AASW)
- American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers (AAPSW)
- American Association of Group Workers (AAGW)
- Association for the Study of Community Organization (ASCO)
- American Association of Medical Social Workers (AAMSW)
- National Association of School Social Workers (NASSW)
- Social Work Research Group (SWRG)
NASW’s
primary functions include promoting the professional development of its
members, establishing and maintaining professional standards of
practice, advancing sound social policies, and providing services that
protect its members and enhance their professional status. The
Association developed and adopted the NASW Code of Ethics and other
generalized and specialized practice standards. Certification and
quality assurance are promoted through the Academy of Certified Social
Workers (ACSW), the NASW Register of Clinical Social Workers, and the
Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW). Among NASW’s political action
programs are Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE) and
Educational Legislative Action Network (ELAN). The Association also
sponsors, through its 56 chapters in the U.S. and abroad, professional
conferences and continuing education programs, and produces
journals—such as the flagship Social Work—books, and major reference
works for the profession.
The Virgin Islands Chapter was formed in March, 1991.